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Post by tim17 on Jul 29, 2023 16:36:24 GMT 1
We've just completed our first week back in Blighty, all been a bit surreal but so far the positives are way ahead of the negatives.
Positives
Having neighbours that we actually see and talk to, being able to walk to the pub and theatre last night, our new UK driving licences arrived three days after applying online, bought a basic (green) Bosch angle grinder for £35 including three cutting discs from B & Q and was able to get £5 off by joining their loyalty card scheme (the purchase then triggered a £3 off voucher), we have countless supermarkets and shops within walking distance (chippy is a two minute walk - cod and chips £7.50), the French reg'd van passed the MOT meaning it can now be re-reg'd, OH got a teaching job on Tuesday and starts in September, the dog has settled in really well.
Negatives
Yet to have a day without some sort of rain and it's not particularly warm, the grass verges haven't been cut for months, it gets light at 5.00 am, we don't have enough space for our furniture.
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Post by lapourtaider on Jul 29, 2023 17:40:59 GMT 1
Well done on getting through a week. I hope things work out for you as much as you wish.
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curtis
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Charente Maritime
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Post by curtis on Jul 29, 2023 18:31:01 GMT 1
Pleased to hear it's started well.
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mysty
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Post by mysty on Jul 29, 2023 18:56:24 GMT 1
Cod and chips sounds nice the neighbours and the theatre I can live without. 😃
Good luck and hope it all goes well.
Brits in France are an endangered species.
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Post by gigi on Jul 29, 2023 20:12:23 GMT 1
It’s good to read that your first week has been pretty good, Tim. Yes, the weather has been pretty poor this month, due to the low-pressure systems we have. Not a good summer at all.
Norwich was a very good choice; we enjoy visiting my husband’s brother and his wife, who moved with his work from living in Wimbledon to Norwich around 30 years ago and love it there.
I hope all continues to go well for you.
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exile
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Massif Central
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Post by exile on Jul 29, 2023 23:45:54 GMT 1
Good luck tim It’s good to read that your first week has been pretty good, Tim. Yes, the weather has been pretty poor this month, due to the low-pressure systems we have. Not a good summer at all. The weather has been bad because it rained on St Swithin's day. All hocus pocus of course - or is it? If we take 40 days in the biblical sense of "a long time" rather than 40 precisely, then allow for the jet stream. This tends to set in stable patterns nd especially during the summer. So if it is to the south of the UK in the 15th July, it is likely to stay there for quite a long time (aka 40 days). And if it is to the South of the UK it is likely to have brought bad weather on the 15th. So maybe a germ of truth in a nonsense belief. |
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Veem
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Post by Veem on Jul 30, 2023 8:50:36 GMT 1
That's a very positive list Tim. I'm pleased for you and hope your lives continue to bring you such good fortune.
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Post by norfolk on Jul 30, 2023 11:01:34 GMT 1
We've just completed our first week back in Blighty, all been a bit surreal but so far the positives are way ahead of the negatives. Positives Having neighbours that we actually see and talk to, being able to walk to the pub and theatre last night, our new UK driving licences arrived three days after applying online, bought a basic (green) Bosch angle grinder for £35 including three cutting discs from B & Q and was able to get £5 off by joining their loyalty card scheme (the purchase then triggered a £3 off voucher), we have countless supermarkets and shops within walking distance (chippy is a two minute walk - cod and chips £7.50), the French reg'd van passed the MOT meaning it can now be re-reg'd, OH got a teaching job on Tuesday and starts in September, the dog has settled in really well. Negatives Yet to have a day without some sort of rain and it's not particularly warm, the grass verges haven't been cut for months, it gets light at 5.00 am, we don't have enough space for our furniture. Have you sorted your Canaries season ticket ? |
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Post by tim17 on Jul 30, 2023 12:44:55 GMT 1
We've just completed our first week back in Blighty, all been a bit surreal but so far the positives are way ahead of the negatives. Positives Having neighbours that we actually see and talk to, being able to walk to the pub and theatre last night, our new UK driving licences arrived three days after applying online, bought a basic (green) Bosch angle grinder for £35 including three cutting discs from B & Q and was able to get £5 off by joining their loyalty card scheme (the purchase then triggered a £3 off voucher), we have countless supermarkets and shops within walking distance (chippy is a two minute walk - cod and chips £7.50), the French reg'd van passed the MOT meaning it can now be re-reg'd, OH got a teaching job on Tuesday and starts in September, the dog has settled in really well. Negatives Yet to have a day without some sort of rain and it's not particularly warm, the grass verges haven't been cut for months, it gets light at 5.00 am, we don't have enough space for our furniture. Have you sorted your Canaries season ticket ? That was one of the things I was able to organise several months ago, I've taken over my late aunt's ST so will be sitting with my cousin and one of his daughters. |
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Post by spectrum on Jul 31, 2023 6:38:59 GMT 1
If you dont mind, what was your main reason for returning as I know of a few that have also returned.
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Post by tim17 on Jul 31, 2023 7:08:14 GMT 1
If you dont mind, what was your main reason for returning as I know of a few that have also returned. No single reason. Big house with land that took a lot of maintenance, bored with rural life and having to drive everywhere, nothing to do in winter, too hot in the summer, La Chasse, elderly parents that now need regular help, not seeing the children much as they're all over France. Perhaps the biggest driver for the timing was the housing market, we got a good price for the French house and if we had waited we may have been priced out of where we wanted to live in the UK. |
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Post by jardiniere on Jul 31, 2023 13:54:15 GMT 1
If you dont mind, what was your main reason for returning as I know of a few that have also returned. No single reason. Big house with land that took a lot of maintenance, bored with rural life and having to drive everywhere, nothing to do in winter, too hot in the summer, La Chasse, elderly parents that now need regular help, not seeing the children much as they're all over France. Perhaps the biggest driver for the timing was the housing market, we got a good price for the French house and if we had waited we may have been priced out of where we wanted to live in the UK. Glad to read things are working out for you in UK. How long were you over here? |
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Post by tim17 on Jul 31, 2023 14:24:20 GMT 1
If you dont mind, what was your main reason for returning as I know of a few that have also returned. No single reason. Big house with land that took a lot of maintenance, bored with rural life and having to drive everywhere, nothing to do in winter, too hot in the summer, La Chasse, elderly parents that now need regular help, not seeing the children much as they're all over France. Perhaps the biggest driver for the timing was the housing market, we got a good price for the French house and if we had waited we may have been priced out of where we wanted to live in the UK. Glad to read things are working out for you in UK. How long were you over here? 18 years. |
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Post by spectrum on Aug 1, 2023 6:51:23 GMT 1
Thanks for that tim 17, same reason a lot of brits returned, there was a surge last year but I suspect it was for being here under the radar, and unable to prove residency, we know of four couples that have left for that reason, two had been here for many years and was flying back to the UK for doctors and hospital appointment etc, enjoy your (new) life.
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Nifty
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Post by Nifty on Dec 2, 2023 10:30:51 GMT 1
Has anybody read
The Road To Little Dribbling ?
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